Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellular communications network

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are described for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellular communications network. In one aspect, scheduling information is received for at least one mobile device previously scheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellular communications network, the scheduling information corresponding to a scheduling decision made for the first cell without the knowledge of scheduling decisions made for a second cell adjacent to the first cell. At least one parameter is determined, based on the received scheduling information, for communications in the second cell that improves performance of the first cell. Communications with mobile devices served by the second cell are adjusted based on the determined at least one parameter.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/578,837, titled “METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FORPROVIDING A RAPIDLY SELF-ORGANIZING CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK”,filed on even date herewith, the entire disclosure of which is hereincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, optimizing the deployment of cellular networks hasrequired a significant amount of human effort. For example, deploying abase station or a network of base stations typically requires detailedplanning beforehand and afterwards in order to optimize the performanceof the base stations. Initial planning often includes tasks to analyzethe proposed network to determine settings such as power levels, antennatilts, sectorization patterns, and the like. Additional labor-intensivetasks are undertaken, such as drive tests, to further optimize thenetwork after deployment. Drive tests are typically people drivingaround the area surrounding the deployed base stations in order to testtheir performance at various locations. This then leads to further basestation optimizations to address problem areas or performance issues.

The labor-intensive nature of these optimization tasks is time consumingand expensive. Automation (or elimination) of some or all of these taskswould therefore provide a savings in time and cost. Note that automationof these tasks does not necessarily require that the same tasks beperformed, only that the optimization goals are achieved via a greaterlevel of automation that is traditionally employed. For example, somelevel of automation can replace the need for drive tests by determiningthe needed information through other means.

Some level of optimization can be provided by conventional networks, butsuch optimization has proven inadequate and relatively slow. The typesof network automation provided can include self-healing,self-optimization, and self-configuration. Self-healing provides forautomated detection and recovery from faults in a network, often fromhardware or software issues. Self-optimization provides for automatedoptimization of a network based on various performance metrics.Self-configuration provides for automating configuration settings suchthat human intervention is reduced. The more general term ofSelf-organizing Networks (i.e., SoN) is used herein to refer to theseautomated tasks.

With base stations being deployed at an increasing density and with theincreasing relevance of small cells, the automation of many aspects ofbase station deployment continues to increase in importance. This occursnot only because there are physically more base stations that are beingdeployed but because denser base station deployments create increasedcomplexities when deploying new base stations.

It is already appreciated by the cellular industry that SoN is and willcontinue to become an increasingly important aspect of deployingnetworks. The majority of the effort for cellular SoNs, however hasfocused on initial deployment tasks through base station parameterconfiguration. There have been some additional efforts directed toslowly varying parameters to optimize performance. The slow variationsmay occur due to traffic patterns, fault conditions, or time of day,among other things. Here, the term “slowly varying” refers to timeframes measured in hours or days. Such long time frames areconventionally needed because a base station conventionally does nothave access to real time or near real time knowledge of the conditionsof its neighboring base stations.

Accordingly, there exists a need for methods, systems, and computerprogram products for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellularcommunications network.

SUMMARY

With real time or near real time knowledge of the conditions ofneighboring base stations, network optimization can be achieved in ashorter period of time. This faster-optimizing class of cellular networkis referred to herein as a “rapidly self-organizing network” andultimately results in better efficiencies of resources, which in turnleads to a reduction in costs of both deployment and operation of acellular network as well as increased network performance.

Methods and systems are described for providing a rapidlyself-organizing cellular communications network. In one aspect,scheduling information is received for at least one mobile devicepreviously scheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellularcommunications network, the scheduling information corresponding to ascheduling decision made for the first cell without the knowledge ofscheduling decisions made for a second cell adjacent to the first cell.At least one parameter is determined, based on the received schedulinginformation, for communications in the second cell that improvesperformance of the first cell. Communications with mobile devices servedby the second cell are adjusted based on the determined at least oneparameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the claimed invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon reading this description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals have been usedto designate like or analogous elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware device inwhich the subject matter may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing a rapidlyself-organizing cellular communications network according to an aspectof the subject matter described herein;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement of components forproviding a rapidly self-organizing cellular communications networkaccording to another aspect of the subject matter described herein;

FIGS. 4A-4C are block diagrams illustrating various exemplaryarrangements for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellularcommunications network according to another aspect of the subject matterdescribed herein; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary arrangement forproviding a rapidly self-organizing cellular communications networkaccording to another aspect of the subject matter described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Prior to describing the subject matter in detail, an exemplary hardwaredevice in which the subject matter may be implemented shall first bedescribed. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that theelements illustrated in FIG. 1 may vary depending on the systemimplementation. With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system forimplementing the subject matter disclosed herein includes a hardwaredevice 100, including a processing unit 102, memory 104, storage 106,transceiver 110, communication interface 112, and a bus 114 that coupleselements 104-112 to the processing unit 102.

The bus 114 may comprise any type of bus architecture. Examples includea memory bus, a peripheral bus, a local bus, etc. The processing unit102 is an instruction execution machine, apparatus, or device and maycomprise a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a graphicsprocessing unit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The processing unit 102 maybe configured to execute program instructions stored in memory 104and/or storage 106.

The memory 104 may include read only memory (ROM) 116 and random accessmemory (RAM) 118. Memory 104 may be configured to store programinstructions and data during operation of device 100. In variousembodiments, memory 104 may include any of a variety of memorytechnologies such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic RAM(DRAM), including variants such as dual data rate synchronous DRAM (DDRSDRAM), error correcting code synchronous DRAM (ECC SDRAM), or RAMBUSDRAM (RDRAM), for example. Memory 104 may also include nonvolatilememory technologies such as nonvolatile flash RAM (NVRAM) or ROM. Insome embodiments, it is contemplated that memory 104 may include acombination of technologies such as the foregoing, as well as othertechnologies not specifically mentioned. When the subject matter isimplemented in a computer system, a basic input/output system (BIOS)120, containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within the computer system, such as during start-up, isstored in ROM 116.

The storage 106 may include a flash memory data storage device forreading from and writing to flash memory, a hard disk drive for readingfrom and writing to a hard disk, a magnetic disk drive for reading fromor writing to a removable magnetic disk, and/or an optical disk drivefor reading from or writing to a removable optical disk such as a CDROM, DVD or other optical media. The drives and their associatedcomputer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thehardware device 100. It is noted that the methods described herein canbe embodied in executable instructions stored in a computer readablemedium for use by or in connection with an instruction executionmachine, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based orprocessor-containing machine, apparatus, or device. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that for some embodiments, othertypes of computer readable media may be used which can store data thatis accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, RAM, ROM, and the likemay also be used in the exemplary operating environment. As used here, a“computer-readable medium” can include one or more of any suitable mediafor storing the executable instructions of a computer program in one ormore of an electronic, magnetic, optical, and electromagnetic format,such that the instruction execution machine, system, apparatus, ordevice can read (or fetch) the instructions from the computer readablemedium and execute the instructions for carrying out the describedmethods. A non-exhaustive list of conventional exemplary computerreadable medium includes: a portable computer diskette; a RAM; a ROM; anerasable programmable read only memory (EPROM or flash memory); opticalstorage devices, including a portable compact disc (CD), a portabledigital video disc (DVD), a high definition DVD (HD-DVD™), a BLU-RAYdisc; and the like.

A number of program modules may be stored on the storage 106, ROM 116 orRAM 118, including an operating system 122, one or more applicationsprograms 124, program data 126, and other program modules 128.

The hardware device 100 may be part of a base station (not shown)configured to communicate with mobile devices 140 in a communicationnetwork. The hardware device 100 may be a separate unit thatcommunicates either through wiring or wirelessly with the base station.A base station may also be referred to as an eNodeB, an access point,and the like. A base station typically provides communication coveragefor a particular geographic area. A base station and/or base stationsubsystem may cover a particular geographic coverage area referred to bythe term “cell.” A network controller (not shown) may be communicativelyconnected to base stations and provide coordination and control for thebase stations. Multiple base stations may communicate with one another,e.g., directly or indirectly via a wireless backhaul or wirelinebackhaul.

The hardware device 100 may operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote nodes via communicationinterface 112, including communicating with one or more mobile devices140 via a transceiver 110 connected to an antenna 130. The mobiledevices 140 can be dispersed throughout the network 100. A mobile devicemay be referred to as user equipment (UE), a terminal, a mobile station,a subscriber unit, or the like. A mobile device may be a cellular phone,a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wirelesscommunication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a wirelesslocal loop (WLL) station, a tablet computer, or the like. A mobiledevice may communicate with a base station directly, or indirectly viaother network equipment such as, but not limited to, a pico eNodeB, afemto eNodeB, a relay, or the like.

The remote node may be a computer, a server, a router, a peer device orother common network node, and typically includes many or all of theelements described above relative to the hardware device 100. Thecommunication interface 112, including transceiver 110 may interfacewith a wireless network and/or a wired network. For example, wirelesscommunications networks can include, but are not limited to, CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (OFDMA), and Single-Carrier Frequency Division MultipleAccess (SC-FDMA). A CDMA network may implement a radio technology suchas Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), TelecommunicationsIndustry Association's (TIA's) CDMA2000®, and the like. The UTRAtechnology includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), and other variants of CDMA.The CDMA2000 technology includes the IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856standards from The Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA), and TIA. A TDMAnetwork may implement a radio technology such as Global System forMobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a radiotechnology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB),IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, andthe like. The UTRA and E-UTRA technologies are part of Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) andLTE-Advance (LTE-A) are newer releases of the UMTS that use E-UTRA.UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, and GAM are described in documents froman organization called the “3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project”(3GPP). CDMA2000® and UMB are described in documents from anorganization called the “3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project 2”(3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for the wirelessnetworks and radio access technologies mentioned above, as well as otherwireless networks and radio access technologies.

Other examples of wireless networks include, for example, a BLUETOOTHnetwork, a wireless personal area network, and a wireless 802.11 localarea network (LAN). Examples of wired networks include, for example, aLAN, a fiber optic network, a wired personal area network, a telephonynetwork, and/or a wide area network (WAN). Such networking environmentsare commonplace in intranets, the Internet, offices, enterprise-widecomputer networks and the like. In some embodiments, communicationinterface 112 may include logic configured to support direct memoryaccess (DMA) transfers between memory 104 and other devices.

In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to thehardware device 100, or portions thereof, may be stored in a remotestorage device, such as, for example, on a server. It will beappreciated that other hardware and/or software to establish acommunications link between the hardware device 100 and other devicesmay be used.

It should be understood that the arrangement of hardware device 100illustrated in FIG. 1 is but one possible implementation and that otherarrangements are possible. It should also be understood that the varioussystem components (and means) defined by the claims, described below,and illustrated in the various block diagrams represent logicalcomponents that are configured to perform the functionality describedherein. For example, one or more of these system components (and means)can be realized, in whole or in part, by at least some of the componentsillustrated in the arrangement of hardware device 100. In addition,while at least one of these components are implemented at leastpartially as an electronic hardware component, and therefore constitutesa machine, the other components may be implemented in software,hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. More particularly,at least one component defined by the claims is implemented at leastpartially as an electronic hardware component, such as an instructionexecution machine (e.g., a processor-based or processor-containingmachine) and/or as specialized circuits or circuitry (e.g., discretelogic gates interconnected to perform a specialized function), such asthose illustrated in FIG. 1. Other components may be implemented insoftware, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. Moreover,some or all of these other components may be combined, some may beomitted altogether, and additional components can be added while stillachieving the functionality described herein. Thus, the subject matterdescribed herein can be embodied in many different variations, and allsuch variations are contemplated to be within the scope of what isclaimed.

In the description that follows, the subject matter will be describedwith reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations thatare performed by one or more devices, unless indicated otherwise. Assuch, it will be understood that such acts and operations, which are attimes referred to as being computer-executed, include the manipulationby the processing unit 102 of data in a structured form. Thismanipulation transforms the data or maintains it at locations in thememory system (including 106, 116, and/or 118) of the computer, whichreconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the device in a mannerwell understood by those skilled in the art. The data structures wheredata is maintained are physical locations of the memory that haveparticular properties defined by the format of the data. However, whilethe subject matter is being described in the foregoing context, it isnot meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will appreciatethat various of the acts and operation described hereinafter may also beimplemented in hardware.

To facilitate an understanding of the subject matter described below,many aspects are described in terms of sequences of actions. At leastone of these aspects defined by the claims is performed by an electronichardware component. For example, it will be recognized that the variousactions can be performed by specialized circuits or circuitry, byprogram instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by acombination of both. The description herein of any sequence of actionsis not intended to imply that the specific order described forperforming that sequence must be followed. All methods described hereincan be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated hereinor otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

In order to optimize the performance of a cellular communicationsnetwork in a fast and efficient manner, scheduling information forscheduling communications with mobile devices in adjacent or nearbycells is preferably received in real-time or near real-time. This can beaccomplished by associating a monitoring device with one or more basestations to monitor scheduling information that is received fromadjacent or nearby cells. For example, FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate twoadjacent cells 401, 402 included in a cellular communications network400. Each cell respectively includes corresponding base stations 403,404.

According to one aspect illustrated in FIG. 4A, cell 401 includes amonitoring device 405 with one or more antennas 407 for monitoringsignals 409 received wirelessly from adjacent cells, such as cell 402.For example, monitoring device 405 can monitor uplink and/or downlinksignals within cell 402 exchanged between mobile devices and arespective base station 404. Similarly, cell 402 can include amonitoring device 406 with one or more antennas 408 for monitoringsignals 410 received wirelessly from adjacent cells, such as cell 401.For example, monitoring device 406 can monitor uplink and/or downlinksignals within cell 401 exchanged between mobile devices and respectivebase station 403. In one aspect, the monitoring device 406 can directlymonitor control channels from transmissions in cell 401 in order toreceive the scheduling information. Alternatively, or in addition, themonitoring device 406 can monitor data transmissions in cell 401 inorder to detect what the scheduling information is. This later approachis referred to as “blind detection.” Although a reciprocal relationshipbetween cells 401 and 402 is illustrated in FIG. 4A, this reciprocity isentirely optional. Accordingly, it should be understood that the subjectmatter described herein also contemplates only one of the cells 401,402, such as cell 401, including a monitoring device 405.

According to another aspect illustrated in FIG. 4B, an arrangement inwhich monitoring devices 405, 406 in adjacent cells share information412 about their respective cells 401, 402 either through a wiredconnection, wirelessly via antennas 407, 408, or both wired andwirelessly. The information shared by monitoring devices 405, 406 can beobtained from their respective base stations 403, 404 or from anothersource having, for example, scheduling information for each respectivecell. The monitoring devices 405, 406 can not only receive schedulinginformation, but can receive other information, such as buffer sizes andreports on packet success. Again, reciprocity is not required such thatit should be understood that the subject matter described hereincontemplates only one of the cells 401, 402, such as cell 401, includinga monitoring device 405.

According to another aspect illustrated in FIG. 4C, a monitoring device414 may be remotely located away from cells 401, 402 (although notrequired to be remote), but monitor one or more of the cells 401, 402,either through a wired connection to one or more of their respectivebase stations 403, 404, a wireless connection to one or more of theirrespective base stations 403, 404, and/or through the monitoring ofsignals 409 and/or 410 received wirelessly from uplink and/or downlinksignals within the cells 401, 402 exchanged between mobile devices andrespective base stations 403, 404.

By receiving and analyzing this information, monitoring devices 405and/or 406 can each essentially profile respective adjacent (or nearby)base stations 403, 404 in order to understand their performance. Themonitoring device can instruct the respective base station for its cellto make adjustments based on the analysis and can observe the effect ofthese adjustments on the adjacent cell's performance. For example,monitoring device 405 can instruct base station 403 to make adjustmentsbased on an analysis of information received for adjacent cell 402 andcan observe the effect of these adjustments on the cell 402'sperformance. This is effectively a closed loop feedback which can beoptimized based on various performance metrics, as described furtherbelow. Preferably, analysis of an adjacent cell's performance is done attimes when the base station associated with the monitoring device is nottransmitting in order to avoid, for example, interference from thestronger signals of the base station.

In an example, during the period when base station 403 is nottransmitting, monitoring device 405 can receive information from cell402 and based on this information can get a better estimate as to theperformance of, for example base station 404. Based on the monitoring ofbase station 404, metrics and statistics can be determined such asthroughput, packet error rate, modulation, and coding selection.Monitoring device 405 can, based on the received information, instructbase station 403 to begin to adjust certain parameters and observe theimpact this will have on the performance metrics of base station 404.After multiple rounds of tweaking these parameters, base station 403 mayfind parameters that both optimize metrics at base station 403 and basestation 404. The parameters adjusted may be power level, modulation andcoding, precoding matrices, power control parameters, and the like.Reciprocally, monitoring device 406 may be analyzing signals from cell401 and instructing base station 404 to adjust parameters. Theseadjustments can be made repeatedly in order to optimize the system aschanges occur, such as when new users are added, there are newthroughput demands, and the like. These adjustments, based on near realtime information from the adjacent cell, can be performed rapidly andrepeatedly in order to optimize the system quickly as changes occur,such as when new users are added, there are new throughput demands, andthe like.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram is illustrated illustrating amethod for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellular communicationsnetwork according to an exemplary aspect of the subject matter describedherein. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an arrangement ofcomponents for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellularcommunications network according to another exemplary aspect of thesubject matter described herein. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustratingan arrangement of components providing an execution environmentconfigured for hosting the arrangement of components depicted in FIG. 3.The method in FIG. 2 can be carried out by, for example, some or all ofthe components illustrated in the exemplary arrangement in FIG. 3operating in a compatible execution environment, such as the environmentprovided by some or all of the components of the arrangement in FIG. 1.The arrangement of components in FIG. 3 may be implemented by some orall of the components of the hardware device 100 of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 2, in block 202 scheduling information isreceived for at least one mobile device previously scheduled forcommunication in a first cell of a cellular communications network, thescheduling information corresponding to a scheduling decision made forthe first cell without the knowledge of scheduling decisions made for asecond cell adjacent to the first cell. Accordingly, a system forproviding a rapidly self-organizing cellular communications networkincludes means for receiving scheduling information for at least onemobile device previously scheduled for communication in a first cell ofa cellular communications network. For example, as illustrated in FIG.3, a monitor component 302 is configured to receive schedulinginformation for at least one mobile device previously scheduled forcommunication in a first cell of a cellular communications network.

With reference to FIG. 5, cellular communications system 500 includes,among its many cells, adjacent cells 501 and 502 having correspondingbase stations 503 and 504. Cell 501 also includes a monitoring device505 having an antenna 507. Monitoring device 505 can include thecomponents illustrated in the exemplary arrangement in FIG. 3 operatingin a compatible execution environment, such as the environment providedby some or all of the components of the arrangement in FIG. 1. Each cellin the system includes a respective base station that communicates withone or more mobile devices. For example, base station 504 of cell 502can communicate with mobile device 510 as well as other mobile devices(not shown). Communications between mobile device 510 and base station504 can be in the downlink direction (i.e., from base station 504 tomobile device 510) and in the uplink direction (i.e., from a mobiledevice 510 to base station 504), which are both represented by signals512 in FIG. 5. Monitoring device 505 can receive wireless downlinksignals 511 intended for mobile device 510 (as well as other mobiledevices) and/or wireless uplink signals intended for base station 504.Through receipt of these signals, the monitor component 302 ofmonitoring device 505 receives scheduling information. For example,monitoring device 505 can monitor control channels that include thescheduling information. More particularly, downlink control channels cancontain information for the scheduling decisions for downlink datatransmissions and uplink scheduling grants. The scheduling informationcorresponds to a scheduling decision made for the cell 502 without theknowledge of scheduling decisions made for adjacent cell 501. Asdiscussed above and illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C, scheduling informationcan also be received a number of other ways in a number of otherarrangements.

In the example illustrated by FIG. 5, mobile device 510 was previouslyscheduled for communications with base station 504. The schedulinginformation corresponds to a scheduling decision made for cell 502without the knowledge of scheduling decisions made for cell 501.Cellular systems typically operate where each base station isindependently making decisions about how to schedule mobile devices. TheSoN operation utilizes the monitoring device to understand thescheduling information, which gives real-time or near real-time insightinto what is happening at an adjacent base station 504. Since basestation 503 is simultaneously sending out its scheduling information,there is not enough time for base station 504 to take into account thescheduling decisions of base station 503 prior to scheduling mobiledevice 510. Accordingly, joint decisions on scheduling devices at bothbase stations are not possible prior to scheduling at both basestations.

Accordingly, in an aspect, the monitor component 302 can be configuredto receive scheduling information for at least one mobile devicescheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellular communicationsnetwork by decoding uplink and/or downlink transmissions of the anadjacent cell to determine the scheduling information. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 5, monitoring device 505 can receive and decodeuplink signals 509 and/or downlink signals 511 transmitted in cell 502.

In an aspect, the monitor component 302 can be configured to receive thescheduling information via a wired connection, as discussed above withreference to FIGS. 4B and 4C. In another aspect, the monitor component302 can be configured to receive scheduling information by wirelesslymonitoring a control channel and/or a data channel of the first cell, asdiscussed above with reference to FIGS. 4A-C.

Returning to FIG. 2, in block 204, at least one parameter forcommunications in a second cell that improves performance of a firstcell is determined based on the received scheduling information.Accordingly, a system for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellularcommunications network includes means for determining, based on thereceived scheduling information, at least one parameter forcommunications in the second cell that improves performance of the firstcell. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an analysis component 304is configured to determine, based on the received schedulinginformation, at least one parameter for communications in the secondcell that improves performance of the first cell.

In one aspect, the analysis component 304 can be configured to determineat least one parameter for communications in the second cell thatimproves performance of the first cell by monitoring transmissions ofthe first cell based on the received scheduling information. Forexample, the analysis component 304 can be configured to determinemodulation, coding selection, transmission time, transmission bandwidth,and transmission bandwidth location. The analysis component 304 can beconfigured to determine from the monitored transmissions of the firstcell at least one of throughput, packet error rate, block error rate,cell utilization, and buffer sizes and can, based on this informationdetermine at least one parameter for communications in the second cellthat improves performance of the first cell. Similarly, the analysiscomponent 304 can be configured to determine from the monitoredtransmissions of the first cell at least one of instantaneous throughputand packet success and can, based on this information determine at leastone parameter for communications in the second cell that improvesperformance of the first cell. For example, analysis component 304 candetermine whether any of the uplink or downlink communications 512 havefailed by monitoring responses, retries, and the like.

In another aspect, the analysis component 304 can be configured todetermine from the monitored transmissions of the first cell at leastone parameter based on at least one of transmit power level, receiverpower level, scheduled time, frequency, bandwidth, modulation, coding,precoding matrices, and power control parameters. For example, withreference to FIG. 5A, suppose base station 503 is introducing a lot ofinterference to mobile device 510 in adjacent cell 502. Traditionally,there is little that is done except that the modulation and coding islowered until mobile device 510 can receive packets correctly. The lowermodulation and coding results in less data for a user of mobile device510. According to the subject matter described herein, analysis of thescheduling information received by monitoring device 505 determines thatbase station 503 is introducing a lot of interference to mobile device510. As described further below, steps can then be taken to rectify thesituation.

In similar respects, the analysis component 304 can be configured todetermine at least one parameter for communications in the second cellthat improves performance of the first cell by considering at least oneof improving sum capacity of at least one of the first or second cell,reducing interference to at least one of the first or second cell,balancing cell load, and providing a minimum quality of minimum qualityof service to users of mobile devices in at least one of the first orsecond cell.

Returning to FIG. 2, in block 206 communications with mobile devicesserved by the second cell are adjusted based on the determined at leastone parameter. Accordingly, a system for providing a rapidlyself-organizing cellular communications network includes means foradjusting communications with mobile devices served by the second cellbased on the determined at least one parameter. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 3, a communications component 306 is configured toadjust communications with mobile devices served by the second cellbased on the determined at least one parameter.

Returning to the example started above with reference to FIG. 5, one wayto reduce the interference to mobile device 510 is to construct aprecoding matrix that is used by base station 503 that would minimizethe interference with mobile device 510. This approach is traditionallynot possible because it would require knowledge of the channel stateinformation of a mobile device 510 that is in an adjacent cell.According to the subject matter described herein and due to themonitoring of mobile device 510 done by monitoring device 505, andsubsequent analysis, however, a precoding matrix for base station 503can be applied to downlink transmissions to improve the situation.Monitoring device 505 can then monitor cell 502 to determine the effecton mobile device 510. The precoding matrix can then be adjusted untilthe interference on mobile device 510 is minimized as measured by itsincreased performance observed through the monitoring done by monitoringdevice 505. Alternatively, a precoding matrix can similarly be appliedto uplink transmissions to improve the situation.

Another advantage of the subject matter described herein is that,through long-term monitoring by monitoring device 505, long termstatistics for the cell 502 and/or 501 can be determined through thescheduling information. These long term statistics can be used toidentify trends that can lead to further optimizations of the networkand to improved deployment of other base stations in the future.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the subject matter (particularly in the context ofthe following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular andthe plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended toserve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separatevalue falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, andeach separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. Furthermore, the foregoing description isfor the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose oflimitation, as the scope of protection sought is defined by the claimsas set forth hereinafter together with any equivalents thereof entitledto. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “suchas”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illustrate thesubject matter and does not pose a limitation on the scope of thesubject matter unless otherwise claimed. The use of the term “based on”and other like phrases indicating a condition for bringing about aresult, both in the claims and in the written description, is notintended to foreclose any other conditions that bring about that result.No language in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention asclaimed.

Preferred embodiments are described herein, including the best modeknown to the inventor for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Oneof ordinary skill in the art should appreciate after learning theteachings related to the claimed subject matter contained in theforegoing description that variations of those preferred embodiments maybecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading theforegoing description. The inventor intends that the claimed subjectmatter may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.Accordingly, this claimed subject matter includes all modifications andequivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended heretoas permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of theabove-described elements in all possible variations thereof isencompassed unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a rapidly self-organizingcellular communications network, the method comprising: receivingscheduling information for at least one mobile device previouslyscheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellular communicationsnetwork, the scheduling information corresponding to a schedulingdecision made for the first cell without the knowledge of schedulingdecisions made for a second cell adjacent to the first cell;determining, based on the received scheduling information, at least oneparameter for communications in the second cell that improvesperformance of the first cell; and adjusting communications with mobiledevices served by the second cell based on the determined at least oneparameter; wherein at least one of the preceding actions is performed onat least one electronic hardware component.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein receiving scheduling information for at least one mobile devicescheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellular communicationsnetwork includes decoding uplink transmissions.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein receiving scheduling information for at least one mobile devicescheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellular communicationsnetwork includes decoding downlink transmissions.
 4. The method of claim1 wherein receiving scheduling information for at least one mobiledevice scheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellularcommunications network includes receiving the scheduling information viaa wired connection.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein receivingscheduling information for at least one mobile device scheduled forcommunication in a first cell of a cellular communications networkincludes wirelessly monitoring a control channel of the first cell. 6.The method of claim 1 wherein receiving scheduling information for atleast one mobile device scheduled for communication in a first cell of acellular communications network includes wirelessly monitoring a datachannel of the first cell.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein determiningat least one parameter for communications in the second cell thatimproves performance of the first cell includes monitoring transmissionsof the first cell based on the received scheduling information.
 8. Themethod of claim 7 wherein determining at least one parameter forcommunications in the second cell that improves performance of the firstcell includes determining at least one of modulation, coding selection,transmission time, transmission bandwidth, and transmission bandwidthlocation.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein determining at least oneparameter for communications in the second cell that improvesperformance of the first cell includes determining at least one ofinstantaneous throughput and packet success.
 10. The method of claim 7wherein determining at least one parameter for communications in thesecond cell that improves performance of the first cell includesdetermining at least one of throughput, packet error rate, block errorrate, cell utilization, and buffer sizes.
 11. The method of claim 1wherein determining at least one parameter for communications in thesecond cell that improves performance of the first cell includesdetermining based on at least one of transmit power level, receiverpower level, scheduled time, frequency, bandwidth, modulation, coding,precoding matrices, and power control parameters.
 12. The method ofclaim 1 wherein determining at least one parameter for communications inthe second cell that improves performance of the first cell includesconsidering at least one of improving sum capacity of at least one ofthe first or second cell, reducing interference to at least one of thefirst or second cell, balancing cell load, and providing a minimumquality of minimum quality of service to users of mobile devices in atleast one of the first or second cell.
 13. The method of claim 1comprising: receiving second scheduling information from the second cellat the first cell; determining, based on the received second schedulinginformation, at least one parameter for communications in the first cellthat improves performance of the second cell; and adjustingcommunications with mobile devices served by the first cell based on thedetermined at least one parameter.
 14. A system for providing a rapidlyself-organizing cellular communications network, the system comprising:means for receiving scheduling information for at least one mobiledevice previously scheduled for communication in a first cell of acellular communications network, the scheduling informationcorresponding to a scheduling decision made for the first cell withoutthe knowledge of scheduling decisions made for a second cell adjacent tothe first cell; means for determining, based on the received schedulinginformation, at least one parameter for communications in the secondcell that improves performance of the first cell; and means foradjusting communications with mobile devices served by the second cellbased on the determined at least one parameter; wherein at least one ofthe means includes at least one electronic hardware component.
 15. Asystem for providing a rapidly self-organizing cellular communicationsnetwork, the system comprising system components including: a monitorcomponent configured for receiving scheduling information for at leastone mobile device previously scheduled for communication in a first cellof a cellular communications network, the scheduling informationcorresponding to a scheduling decision made for the first cell withoutthe knowledge of scheduling decisions made for a second cell adjacent tothe first cell; an analysis component configured for determining, basedon the received scheduling information, at least one parameter forcommunications in the second cell that improves performance of the firstcell; and a communications component configured for adjustingcommunications with mobile devices served by the second cell based onthe determined at least one parameter; wherein at least one of thesystem components includes at least one electronic hardware component.16. The system of claim 15 wherein the monitor component is configuredto receive scheduling information for at least one mobile devicescheduled for communication in a first cell of a cellular communicationsnetwork by decoding uplink transmissions.
 17. The system of claim 15wherein the monitor component is configured to receive schedulinginformation for at least one mobile device scheduled for communicationin a first cell of a cellular communications network by decodingdownlink transmissions.
 18. The system of claim 15 wherein the monitorcomponent is configured to receive scheduling information for at leastone mobile device scheduled for communication in a first cell of acellular communications network by receiving the scheduling informationvia a wired connection.
 19. The system of claim 15 wherein the monitorcomponent is configured to receive scheduling information for at leastone mobile device scheduled for communication in a first cell of acellular communications network by wirelessly monitoring a controlchannel of the first cell.
 20. The system of claim 15 wherein themonitor component is configured to receive scheduling information for atleast one mobile device scheduled for communication in a first cell of acellular communications network by wirelessly monitoring a data channelof the first cell.
 21. The system of claim 15 wherein the analysiscomponent is configured to determine at least one parameter forcommunications in the second cell that improves performance of the firstcell by monitoring transmissions of the first cell based on the receivedscheduling information.
 22. The system of claim 21 wherein the analysiscomponent is configured to determine at least one parameter forcommunications in the second cell that improves performance of the firstcell by determining at least one of modulation, coding selection,transmission time, transmission bandwidth, and transmission bandwidthlocation.
 23. The system of claim 21 wherein the analysis component isconfigured to determine at least one parameter for communications in thesecond cell that improves performance of the first cell by determiningat least one of instantaneous throughput and packet success.
 24. Thesystem of claim 21 wherein the analysis component is configured todetermine at least one parameter for communications in the second cellthat improves performance of the first cell by determining at least oneof throughput, packet error rate, block error rate, cell utilization,and buffer sizes.
 25. The system of claim 15 wherein the analysiscomponent is configured to determine at least one parameter forcommunications in the second cell that improves performance of the firstcell by determining based on at least one of transmit power level,receiver power level, scheduled time, frequency, bandwidth, modulation,coding, precoding matrices, and power control parameters.
 26. The systemof claim 15 wherein the analysis component is configured to determine atleast one parameter for communications in the second cell that improvesperformance of the first cell by considering at least one of improvingsum capacity of at least one of the first or second cell, reducinginterference to at least one of the first or second cell, balancing cellload, and providing a minimum quality of minimum quality of service tousers of mobile devices in at least one of the first or second cell. 27.The system of claim 15 comprising: receiving second schedulinginformation from the second cell at the first cell; determining, basedon the received second scheduling information, at least one parameterfor communications in the first cell that improves performance of thesecond cell; and adjusting communications with mobile devices served bythe first cell based on the determined at least one parameter.
 28. Anon-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program,executable by a machine, for providing a rapidly self-organizingcellular communications network, the computer program comprisingexecutable instructions for: receiving scheduling information for atleast one mobile device previously scheduled for communication in afirst cell of a cellular communications network, the schedulinginformation corresponding to a scheduling decision made for the firstcell without the knowledge of scheduling decisions made for a secondcell adjacent to the first cell; and determining, based on the receivedscheduling information, at least one parameter for communications in thesecond cell that improves performance of the first cell; adjustingcommunications with mobile devices served by the second cell based onthe determined at least one parameter.